Why will the universal USB-C charger be standard for all devices?
The universal USB-C charger will be standard for everyone by the end of 2024. Why? This is a top-down regulation of the European Union, which is primarily intended to guide consumers towards more ecological choices when shopping.
Under EU regulations, all phones, tablets and cameras sold in the EU will have to have a USB Type-C port by the end of 2024, and from spring 2026 the requirement will also be extended to laptops.
In this article you will learn:
- what type of chargers dominate the market and why were there EU demands for devices equipped with a charging port;
- which mobile devices will be affected by these changes and when the new regulations will come into force;
- in what direction is the European Parliament heading regarding the amount of waste and ecology in general.
Universal charger for all devices
The devices covered by the regulations include, among others, mobile phones. , tablets , game consoles , e-readers and others portable devices. All those devices that are charged by wire and operate at up to 100W will have to be equipped with a USB Type-C port – regardless of the manufacturer. This is a groundbreaking decision that aims to simplify the lives of consumers and reduce the negative impact of electrical and electronic waste on the environment. The European Commission and the European Parliament unanimously recognized that this solution will have a positive impact on the ecosphere and will allow for a minimal reduction in consumerism.
Customers can choose whether they want to purchase a new device with or without a charger. This should reduce the accumulation of e-waste in homes, and therefore the throwing of e-waste into inappropriate containers. The EU estimates that broken and unused chargers constitute around 11,000 tonnes of waste. This is a frightening amount – but another question arises – what about chargers with other tips when the EU recommendations regarding USB-C come into force?
Are all manufacturers ready for change?
European Commission research shows that half of all chargers sold in 2018 in EU countries used a USB micro-B connector. Only 29% had a USB-C connector, and 21% had a Lightning connector, used by Apple since 2012. Standardizing chargers to a single standard will make many proprietary charging ports (like Apple’s Lightning) obsolete in Europe. Manufacturers therefore argue that once chargers are standardized to USB-C, all the others that are already in consumers’ homes will go to the trash. Researchers in an issue of the Northwestern Journal of International Law & Business investigated the matter. In fact, as of 2019, only 29% of phones sold in the European Union used USB-C chargers. Therefore, forcing the switch to USB-C would make almost 71% of chargers useless for consumers. Customers who buy newer devices with a USB-C port will no longer be able to reuse their older chargers with a different input.
Customer education – in line with new regulations. What changes will come with the unification of device chargers?
However, if we look at the matter in a broader, long-term perspective, according to analyses by the European Commission, thanks to the unification of the charging standard, European citizens will be able to save up to 250 million euros per year. In addition to economic benefits, the new regulations aim to reduce the amount of electronic waste , which is an important step towards sustainable development. Guidelines on product charging requirements are to appear on device labels. Perhaps in a few years we will be able to use one charger for all the equipment in our home or office? Click here again! You can check how the level of paper recycling is growing in Europe! ♻️ Sources: [1] [2] [3]
